Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

In its first year, W3001 members undertook collaborative research and published extensively in line with the committee's goal to advance understanding of three critical issues: post-recession rural population change, employment dynamics, and housing market conditions (see list of publications).

During its first annual meeting, the committee organized an “engagement” workshop on “Building Community Partnerships and Sharing Information” with local extension specialists. The group exchanged information and ideas revolving around four questions: 1. What are the primary demographic issues facing rural areas and small towns? 2. How has the recent recession affected rural communities? 3. What do researchers need to know more about? 4. How can we help? The committee came away with detailed information about challenges facing rural communities in New York State and new perspectives on needed scholarship, which was compiled in detail and e-mailed to group members following the meeting (see minutes).

During it first year, committee members engaged in significant outreach and research dissemination, including numerous presentations at international conferences and participation in organized sessions at the annual meetings of the Rural Sociological Society, the Population Association of America, the Association of American Geographers, the American Sociological Association, and several other groups. Briefings and consultations were made to policymakers and stakeholder groups, including U.S. Senate staffers, the USDA’s Rural Development mission area, regional Rural Development Centers, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Minnesota State Legislature, Federal Reserve of Boston, Consortium of Social Science Associations, Organization of Wildlife Planners, Leadership New Hampshire, the Housing Assistance Council, and Alaska’s Sun’aq Tribe.